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Tortrix infestation on Ceanothus

peteski2011peteski2011 Posts: 67
in Problem solving
Hi all 

Really struggling to control a tortrix issue on our young ceanothus. I've tried squishing them on sight and spraying with Bug Clear - with very limited success. Are there any other suggestions that anyone can make that will rid the plant of them? I've heard Bacillus Thuringiensis is used by gardeners but it seems like in the States and not here? Is it banned here? 

Thanks for any other suggestions people can offer!

P

Posts

  • chris33.murphychris33.murphy Posts: 17
    I have the same issue on various plants like rudbeckia, echinacea  choisya and besides hand picking/squashing, moving the plants was the only thing that yielded results. Not ideal I know! 

  • peteski2011peteski2011 Posts: 67
    It's really annoying because the plant has done so well so far and I'll be damned if it's going to be destroyed by them!
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Is it a new plant? I find that they tend to come from plants that have been grown in controlled surroundings. Over feeding and in cramped spaces where they spread from one plant to the next. If the leaf tips are the areas affected, I would just snip them off now. They will recover in time before winter sets in. I had a bad case of it coming from new plants, and did this, the next year nothing.
  • peteski2011peteski2011 Posts: 67
    Hi

    It’s been in about a year and a half along with another variety that has furrier leaves which clearly they don’t like as it’s totally pest free. It’s attacking all the lovely new growth at the tips. 

    P
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Sorry to hear that. At this time of year you can still snip the tips off. Enough time for new growth. I was always look at the tips to see how the leaves develop. After a while you can tell when they stick together and fail to form. It is very difficult to control, but robust plants will bounce back eventually. 
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